Advocate staff photo by TRAVIS SPRADLING -- LSU wide receiver John Diarse (9 gets a pat on the head from teammate LSU offensive lineman Ethan Pocic (77), after Diarse turned a short pass into a 75-yard touchdown reception in LSU's bowl game loss to Notre Dame.

LSU offensive line shuffle continues: Ethan Pocic now at center, Will Clapp at left guard

Bradley Dale Peveto taking over LSU linebackers group

Advocate staff photo by TRAVIS SPRADLING -- LSU wide receiver John Diarse (9 gets a pat on the head from teammate LSU offensive lineman Ethan Pocic (77), after Diarse turned a short pass into a 75-yard touchdown reception in LSU's bowl game loss to Notre Dame.

LSU’s starting offensive line is coming into focus a week before the season opener against McNeese State. Clapp, a redshirt freshman, has moved from center to left guard, and Pocic, who began camp at left guard, has replaced him at center.

Highly ranked rookie Maea Teuhema, meanwhile, appears to be the sixth lineman as the Tigers head into the game against the Cowboys next Saturday.

What’s also clear: things could change again before game day. LSU offensive line coach Jeff Grimes and head coach Les Miles have been experimenting at the interior offensive line spots — left and right guard and center.

Teuhema, who began practicing with the starters recently in practice, has received time at left guard. Clapp started camp at center, now is at left guard and has also spent time at right guard, where Josh Boutte is expected to get the nod.

Clapp played left guard in the Tigers’ final scrimmage of the preseason Tuesday, and Pocic played center in the scrimmage, both players said.

“I just want to play football really. Center, guard … doesn’t really matter to me,” said Pocic, who saw time at both spots during his sophomore season last year.

Pocic is the more experienced of the two and Clapp, a possible reason for his shift to center, thought to be the quarterback of the offensive line.

“Center makes the points and identifies the fronts for the whole O-line,” Pocic said. “Being a center, whoever it is — me, Clapp, Andy (Dodd) — you’ve got to be prepared every week. Do everything in the film room and do extra on your own. You’ve got to be prepared for everything really.”

Teuhema, ranked as high as the No. 1 guard in the 2015 class, appears to be pushing Clapp at left guard. Clapp called the 6-foot-5, 325-pound Texan “extremely good” for a freshman. Clapp’s move away from center is no big deal, he said.

“They train me and Ethan to be able to play the interior three,” Clapp said. “We’re pretty interchangeable. There’s no difference in our technique. We’re a heavy zone technique team. Only difference is snapping the ball.”

Defensive staff tweaks

Kendell Beckwith said LSU’s defensive coaches have divided up the coaching responsibilities a bit differently this season when it comes to the linebackers.

Beckwith, who plays middle linebacker, said Bradley Dale Peveto has taken more of a direct role coaching the linebackers. This has freed up new defensive coordinator Kevin Steele to work with all three primary defensive groups, including defensive line and defensive backs.

Former defensive coordinator John Chavis worked almost exclusively with the linebackers. Steele has been observed in practices moving from position group to position group, but Beckwith said he spends about half his time in the linebackers’ meeting room.

“I like it,” Beckwith said. “It’s good to learn from coach Peveto and coach Steele.”

Peveto also continues to hold the dual role of special teams coordinator. Given that NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) schools are limited to nine full-time on-field coaches, it is common for assistants to hold down multiple roles. Peveto, who began his second stint at LSU as an assistant coach in 2014, was merely listed as a defensive assistant last season.

Injury update

Freshman offensive lineman Adrian Magee is out indefinitely with a foot injury, team spokesman Michael Bonnette confirmed. Magee, a four-star 2015 signee out of Franklinton, was spotted in a walking boot and using crutches earlier this week. He was not expected to play this season.

Receiver Trey Quinn’s status is unclear. He suffered what he called a head injury, but “not a concussion,” during LSU’s first preseason camp scrimmage. Fellow receiver Travin Dural said Quinn had returned to practice in a limited role donning a green noncontact jersey.